2021 gift ideas for long distance friends and family

Long Distance

Whether you’re separated by state lines or entire oceans, these gifts are perfect for showing your long-distance friends and family how much you care.

Personalized family recipe cutting board

When we can’t spend time with family, one of the things we often miss most are meals that make us feel at home. This customized cutting board can help. Engrave it with Grandma’s biscuit recipe or Dad’s special sauce blend. Opt for a typed font or have it etched in your loved one’s own handwriting. Perfect for home cooks who are missing home and those who want to make it just like Mom.

“Coffee together” engraved spoon

Little reminders can mean a lot when you’re missing each other. These engraved spoons are the perfect example. We chose “Still having coffee together,” but there are several other messages to choose from. Perfect for coffee lovers and long-distance dates on Zoom.

Watch with two time zones

Do you ever find yourself wondering what your loved one might be up to right this second? This unisex wrist watch displays two times – one for you and one for your long-distance friend – so you can time your phone calls and virtual dinners just right. Perfect for those who are counting down the minutes until you see each other again.

Long distance friendship lamp

If you live with someone, a smile from across the room can say a lot. If you’re miles apart, it’s a little harder to show in-the-moment affection. This stylish wood friendship lamp can help. A tap on your lamp makes theirs light up so they know you’re thinking of them. You can even pick different colors for everyone in the family or friend group. Perfect for those whose friends and family, no matter where they are, light up their life.

Smart photo frame

Digital photo frames are nothing new, but this one from Nixplay makes it easier to share your pictures and videos. Send images to your giftee’s frame via WiFi, so there’s no downloading or sending USB drives back and forth. This 10-inch frame can be mounted on the wall or displayed on a tabletop, but there’s also a widescreen version that also plays Spotify. Perfect for those who like to “drop in” on family, take 1,000 pictures a day on their phone and grandparents who wish they could see the little ones more often.

Echo Show

Everyone could use an easy way to make video calls these days. Stay in touch with your loved ones with an Echo Show. It’s more than just a typical tablet or laptop, though. Whoever gets this gift will enjoy movies and TV shows, listen to their favorite playlists on Amazon Music and ask Alexa all kinds of questions. The Echo Show is also compatible with other smart devices, including the Schlage Connect™ Smart Deadbolt with Zigbee technology. Perfect for smart home owners, technology buffs and those you just can’t wait to see face-to-face.

Book club box

This subscription box sends a book your bestie. Their crate also comes with a couple of gifts, each numbered to be opened at specific points in their reading. Get one for yourself too, and we bet you’ve never shared a book quite like this before. Based on your taste and who you’re shopping for, there are different boxes for kids, young adults, mystery lovers and travel junkies, to name a few. It’s the perfect way to spend time together, even when you’re far apart. Perfect for book worms of all ages.

Custom jigsaw puzzle

Submit a photo – from vacation, a group shot, whatever – and have it turned into a unique jigsaw puzzle. Your friend or family member will love piecing together your heartfelt message little by little. You can even add a personalized message. Perfect for celebrating a holiday, birthday or anniversary, or for those who love game night any night.

No matter who you’re shopping for, if you’re buying gifts online, do it safely. Follow these tips for secure online shopping at the Schlage blog.